I think you would be shocked to find that, regardless of what you see, the team is defensively and offensively better when Shane starts. I think a lot of that is personality and leading by example. I've seen it this season. I see what Morey sees. This guy just makes the team feel accountable, and he does his best, which is pretty good (one of the best defenders, in cluding help defense, plus 40% from 3pt range). His impact is obvious. Look at games with Shane and games without Shane.
The current Shane Battier after injury is just a different guy. Did anyone notice his shots (bricks) during the Laker games and his confidence is sort of missing. I hope he'll become the Shane battier prior to injury soon.
We've been winning with Shane back in the lineup. Not to mention, we had a chance to beat the Lakers. This post is EPIC FAIL
didn't we just win a game? I swear, people on clutchfans can't be happy unless they're complaining about something.
I watched the game on and off. He looked to be doing a decent job on Wade from what I saw. About as good a job as you can hope to do on a player like that.
I'm goign to say his defense doesnt justify him getting playing time because he's awful on offense. Thats why Utah has beaten the rox. If he gives up 15 or so to brewer or ak-47 and he scores 2, what good is that? If kobe scored 40 and he scores 5, how is that such a good thing. he needs to be better offensively, period. The defense is cool, but getting burned for 30's while scoring nothing isnt. Anyone wonder why those guys have so much energy in the 4th qt? If you dont even have to guard the guy, you're going to have energy in the 4th qt.
BTW, some of the passes to Yao today were from Shane. As Feigen mentioned, Battier is very good at getting the ball to Yao. It's a big plus to have Battier on the floor with Yao.
haha thats funny shroopy, but i take back that wafer being better defender than shane, that was a heated exagerrated comment. our best defenders 1 artest 2 hayes 3 battier
your an idiot that probably has never played basketball, covering a shooters face is the most effective way other then blockign the shot of reducing the shooters accuracy. he never demands the ball in the post.. i dun no wat you've been watching maybe he does it once a game maximum his on ball defense may not be as great as artests. but his team defense and rotation is superb. finally if you think von wafer is a good defender then obviously you have no credibility for saying shane's defense is overrated. wafer hasnt the slightest clue of team defense or making the correct read on the pick and roll. theres more to defense then just steals and blocks...
I'm one of those who thinks Battier's D is overrated. I don't like his offense, and he no longer is a big threat at the 3pt line, Wafer and Barry are a lot better. Artest does better 1 on 1.. still remember the Portland game. Anyhow, hope he improves his game.
Do you realise, the man has still dealing with a injured ankle? Battier is in the same boat as Artest and McGrady. It will take at least a month before they are close to being at there best.
he may be on to something.. an NBA SF ought to be able to hit wide open 3s, dribble some, and dunk every now and then, intangibles or not.
Battier is definitely overrated on this board. He's not a lockdown defender as some claim, but a good team defender. We should remember, however, that the Rockets were a good defensive team before Shane got here. Also, I think Kobe has had more success points wise against the Rockets since Battier arrived so I wouldn't harp on win #22 in a row last year too much. The problem with Battier is that he's unathletic and he's not a skilled player. He can't dribble a basketball effectively. This is important when a player is running at him all out of control to challenge one of his 3 pt shots. Shane can easily dribble around him, but he doesn't possess the skills to do so. Offensively he gives you nothing on a consistent basis other than the corner 3. He can't drive to the basket because he's a poor ball handler and he can't finish well at the rim because he's unathletic. As leebigez has pointed his man doesn't usually even have to guard him on the offensive end. It's so bad that Battier doesn't even realize what's going on the offensive end sometimes. He just puts his head down and runs to the corner. Tonight for example, he did just that and by the time he looked up Wade, who was guarding him, had stolen the ball from somebody else and was heading the other way for a 2 on 1 fast break. He even runs to the corner on a fast break. He needs to play a lot better if he's going to justify the price we paid for him and he needs to show up offensively. If not, he needs to go...the trade leebigez has in his sig (Shane for Outlaw and Frye) is ideal.
i disagree with everything the OP said except the fact putting your hand in the shooters face is overrated and ineffective, i think putting your arm straight up and go for the block shot is more effect as it changes the way players shoot, the hand in the face trick doesn't do that, players like Kobe and Lebron only need a glimpse of the basket and muscle memory take over, they don't have to change their shot because they don't have to worry about the ball being blocked.
Muscles don't have memory. Battier is one of the few players left in this team who knows JVG's defense system, and he does a good job limiting the enemys' superstars. We are lucky to have him.
Battier has good defence skills, every rocket man need to learn from him, his defence is not by his body, this is not the same like Ron, Ron is a strong man. Battier has a great sense to help teammates defende, good blocks
